Pressing machine



J. C. LEDBETTER Aug. 3 M926.

PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 17 1923 JAMES C. LEDBETTER, NEW YORK,

MACHINERY CORPORATION, F NEW PRESSING Application led May 1'?,

This invention pertains to garment presses and has for its main object the prodction of a machine which while easy of operation is capable of effecting substantially any degree of pressure necessary or desired ranging from light to heavy. v The construction is such that the closing of the press may be readily eected, the press being automatically locked irrespective of the degree of pressure exerted.

lith these and other objects in view reference will be had to the annexed drawings wherein a press embodying my invention is shown in sectional elevation, the full line position illustrating the press in its open position and the dotted line position showing it closed. p

In the drawing 1 denotes the frame of the machine which may be of any approved form and 2 the buck or lower press element.

Fulcrumed upon a fixed shaft 3 is a lever -4 (of the first order) at the forward end of which is afiixed a pressing head 5. The

lever will preferably be provided with a 5 counterweight 6 and likewise carries a roller or bowl 7 preferably mounted upon roller bearings. Said roller is adapted to coact with a swinging or rocking element denoted generally by 8 and mounted for oscillation 0 about aifixed pin or shaft 9, the bearing being preferably of the roller type.

The rocking element is formed with an outwardly extending ng'er or horn 10 upon which the roller rests when the press is fully opened. Extending upwardly from the horn is a bearing face 11 or initial cam surface which merges into a second cr pressure applying cam surface 12 which gradually increases in eceentricity from the face l1 toward the opposite end where it terminates in a. horn or upwardly extending member 13 which latter acts as a stop to prevent over travel of the parts if perchance any such over travel should obtain. The rocking cam member 8 at its lower end carries a sector gear 14 which meshes with a similar gear 15 formed upon the upwardly extending arm 16 of a pedal lever 17 fulcrumed upon a fixed shaft 18 secured in the frame 1 of the machine. The pedal lever is provided with an upwardly extending member 19 having a series' of ratchet teeth 20 formed upon the forward face thereof. A spring 21 secured to a fixed portion of the structure at one end and at its lower end to the lever 17 tends to isaiasi ea'ran'r eterea.

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES HOFFMAN YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

MACHINE.

was. vserial No. 639,594.

draw the lever upwardly and consequently to hold the parts in the position shown in full lines. Pivotally mounted in the lower portion of the frame is a treadle lever 22 which is likewise provided with an upward extension 23 having ratchet teeth 2l upon its inner face, the teeth being complemental to the teeth 20. A spring` 25 interposed between the lever 23 and a fixed abutment 26 formed or'secured upon the frame 1 tends at all times to force the lever inwardly and to bring `the teeth 24 into such position that they will engage the teeth 20 when the lever 17 is lowered. A stop 27 underlying an inward extension of the lever 22 tends to hold the tooth extension of the lever in such position that its teeth will readily engage the teeth 2O when the lever 17 is lowered. "Said inward extension is likewise provided with a set screw 28 which extends upwardly and contacts an abutment 29 when the treadle lever 17 is in its lowermost position. Thus the treadle 22 may be employed as a kick-off treadle to release the ratchet teeth 24- and to start the lever 17 in its u ward position as the press is opened. A yie ding abutment or stop. 30 is secured to the frame 1 and coacts with the rockin@` member 8 when the press is opened and thus takes the jar ofi. of the parts which otherwise might obtain.

In operation, the operator grasps the handle 31 which extends upwardly and forwardly from the head 5 and draws the press head downwardly, such closing of the head being assisted by pressure upon the treadle lever 17. During this movement, the roller 7 travels along the face 11 and the member 8 having been rockedcounter-clockwise, the cam face 12 passes beneath the roller. This ini-` tial closing of the press is effected through a slight downward movement of the treadle lever 17 which comes to the dotted line position indicated at X,and upon a further downward movement of the treadle heavy pressure is applied by causing the member 8 Wl to swing further to the left carrying the gradually increasing cam face 12 further beneath the roller or until the parts come to the position shown in the dotted lines in the drawing. When fullydepressed the 105 treadle lever is in the position shown in dotted lines with the ratchet teeth 20 and 24 interlocked, thus holdingl the press from flying open. y

It is of course not essential that the treadle 110 goods being operated upon are thick the required degree of pressure may be obtained before the lever is fully depressed or before the rocking member 8 is thrown fully to the left. If the goods be thin, thel pedal may be carried down to the full extent and the same degree of heavy pressure exerted as obtained with the heavy goods.

As above noted, only a short treadle movement is necessary to produce the initial closing and the operator has the balance of the pedal travel for the purpose of imposing heavy pressure upon the goods through the head.

I claim p l. In a garment press the combination of cooperating pressing elements; a lever to which one of said elements is attached; a second lever; a pivotally mounted camelement cooperating with the. first 'named lever to rock the same; and connections between the second lever andthe cam element to swingl the latter and through the same t prodlce a closing movement of the press.

2. n aframe; a buck carried thereby; a lever of the first order fulcrumed on the frame; a

" extending horn against a garment press the combination of*v head carried by one end ofthe lever; a roller carried by the lever in rear of its fulcrum; a rocking member pivoted on the frame below the lever, said member having a laterally extending horn against which the roller rest-s when the press is open, said member likewise having a cam face on its upper end for applying heavy pressure through .the roller and lever to the press head; and means `for actuating said rocking member.

3. In a garment press the combination of a frame;.a buck carried thereby; a lever of the first order fulcrumed on the frame; a head carried by one end of the lever; a roller carried by the lever in rear of its fulcrum; a rocking member pivoted on the frame below the lever, said member having a laterally which the roller rests when the press is open, said member likewise having a cam face on its upper end for applying heavy pressure through the roller and lever to the press head; a sector gear associatedV with the rocking member; a treadle lever: and a sector gear carried thereby meshing with the aforementioned gear.

YIn testimony whereof I have signed my name to thislspecification.

JAMES C. LEDBETTER. 

